Cubosome formulations stabilized by a dansyl-conjugated block copolymer for possible nanomedicine applications

•A new fluorescent dansyl-conjugated Pluronic was synthesized.•The new fluorescent Pluronic was effective in stabilizing cubosome dispersion.•An anticancer drug (quercetin) was encapsulated within the fluorescent cubosomes.•Such theranostic cubosome formulation showed good photophysical properties.•The fluorescent cubosome formulation was found highly biocompatible.

We present here an innovative, fluorescent, monoolein-based cubosome dispersion. Rather than embedded within the monoolein palisade, the fluorescent imaging agent, namely dansyl, was conjugated to the terminal ethylene oxide moieties of the block copolymer Pluronic F108. We discuss the physicochemical and photophysical properties of this fluorescent Pluronic and of a cubosome formulation stabilized by a mixture of dansyl-conjugated and non-conjugated Pluronic, also including an anticancer drug (quercetin). Furthermore, we performed biocompatibility tests against HeLa cells to assess internalization and cytotoxicity features of this nanoparticles aqueous dispersion. Cryo-TEM, SAXS, and DLS analysis, proved the bicontinuous cubic inner nanostructure and the morphology of this fluorescent cubosome dispersion, while photophysical measurements and biocompatibility results basically validate their potential use for theranostic nanomedicine applications.

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